Community Benefits of a Bike Patrol for Traffic Enforcement

The use by law enforcement of bike patrols dates back to the late 1800s, the earliest being Boston Park first used in 1892 to patrol cyclists in city parks. (Civic Plus). Other cities followed- Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Cincinnati, and Chicago. The Commissioner of the New York Police Department, Theodore Roosevelt, utilized bike patrols to police cyclists and carriage drivers.

Bike patrols went away for a long period, turning to vehicles. In 1987 Seattle, WA. instituted bicycle patrols to reduce crime, construction and traffic, seriously hampering patrol cars. Foot patrol was supplemented with officers on bicycles to reduce crime. By 2000, it was reported that there were 4900 police bike units and over 300 bike medical teams in the U.S. ( IACP National Law Enforcement Policy Center).

In Toronto, Canada, there are 643 trained bike patrol officers having been in place for over 30 years.

Universities and cities are adopting the use of Bike patrols due to the advantages they provide, particularly because they are less intimating and improve community relationships. (Police Bicycle Patrols: An Integral Part of Community Policing). Bike patrols are also an important community asset for patrolling the miles of bike paths. As of November of 2022, there were 18,953 miles of bike lanes in the US. In 1978, the US Bicycle Route System was formed to create a system like the US highway system. Ultimately, this system is intended to encompass 50,000 miles. NYC alone has more than 650 miles of bike paths. Bike patrols will be necessary to keep these routes safe and to enforce traffic regulations.

The community benefits of using bike patrols are significant and can be very effective. The International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA) has identified ten (10)  benefits of bike patrols:

• Bikes are less threatening than patrol vehicles. Patrol vehicles have negative connotations – lights, flashing lights, double parking. Bike patrols offer a more approachable and community-oriented form of enforcement. Officers on bikes are often accessible to community members, facilitating positive interactions and community engagement. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) reports that leaving the police cruiser behind lowers people’s defenses and provides for better interaction . (Vasylchuk)

• Bike patrols can develop  a comradery with cyclists. Other bicyclists are more accepting of bike patrol units creating community-oriented policing.

• Bike patrols have twice as many community contacts as a patrol vehicle. This encourages conversations about directions, parking information, reducing the “out to get you” stereotype increasing community trust.

Bike patrols can be used for other purposes such as traffic enforcement, targeted enforcement, events, and surveillance. A bike patrol enforcing traffic violations, including bike lane violations, contributes to improved road safety by addressing issues directly on the streets where violations occur. This enhances safety for all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists. Many cities have implemented Vison Zero goals. Bike patrols will be an important tool to achieve these goals.

• Bike patrols are environmentally friendly. Enforcing bike lane violations through bike patrols emphasizes the importance of maintaining clear and safe cycling infrastructure. This contributes to the overall promotion of bike friendly environment, encouraging more people to use bicycles for commuting and making it safer to do so. There are also significant health benefits for officers on bike patrol. There are fitness requirements that need to be maintained and are encouraged for officers. Bikes do not use fossil fuels and do not emit CO2.

• Bike patrols can go where patrol vehicles cannot. In cities and universities, the ability to respond quickly is important. Not having to dodge traffic or circle blocks cuts down on response time in tight settings. Universities may have car free zones. Events, sporting events, protests, and concerts can be difficult for patrol cars as access can be blocked by pedestrians. Further, efficient enforcement of traffic violations, including those related to bike lanes, which maybe brief ( someone getting a cup of coffee or dry cleaning) but dangerous nonetheless, helps maintain traffic flow. This can lead to reduced congestion, benefiting the community by improving overall transportation efficiency. For instance,  no stopping in bus lanes and bus stops. Blocked bus stops are not only dangerous, it delays the bus route. Delayed bus routes decrease the reliability of the service and ultimately the willingness for passengers to rely on this important form of transit. A bike patrol enforcing no stopping zones is an effective means of keeping buses on schedule.

• Perpetrators do not notice bike patrols. They are more stealth than a patrol vehicle. More importantly to the community, bike patrols are well suited to address localized traffic concerns and violations. They can respond quickly to community-specific issues, making the enforcement process more tailored to the needs of each neighborhood.

• Bike patrols can use all of their senses to notice illegal activity.

• Bike are less costly than patrol vehicles. A mountain bike properly fitted will likely be less than $2500. They are cheaper to maintain and require no gas.

There are a number of considerations for a bike patrol unit that is intended to enforce traffic and parking violations including:

Legal authorization - Make sure that the team is housed in a unit that has statutory authority to write violations.

Training - Enforcement officers require instruction on riding, safety, and physical training, in addition to normal training requirements. There are organizations that can assist and help develop protocol for  fitness and health checks, equipment, gear, repair, and maintenance of equipment.  A bike patrols are a preferred assignment among officers.

Equipment and Gear – If the unit is intended to primarily enforce bike and bus lanes, and bus stops, light weight devices for immobilization to deter future infractions could be provided along with LPR enabled cameras or handhelds. The IACP Bicycle Patrol August 2004 Concept and Issues Paper provides  lists of Bicycle Equipment and  Sample Uniform Packages.

Strategic Planning - Decide the primary function of the unit and establish priority routes, and consider community input. Bike paths are obvious choices for routes.

Technology Integration - New mobile and handheld devices will need to be integrated.

Community Outreach - Build positive relationships with communities through outreach before, during, and after the launch of the program.

Public Awareness Campaign - Create awareness campaigns about the benefits of traffic enforcement and improved traffic flow and the importance of including bike lanes.

Evaluation and Adaptation - Establish metrics (KPIs) to evaluate the effectiveness of the bike patrol unit. Be prepared to adapt routes, times, and workforce to improve outcomes.

The community benefits of a bike patrol traffic performing parking enforcement unit are significant and include accessibility and maneuverability, enhanced safety, reduced traffic congestion,  community engagement, approachability, traffic management, and environmental factors. Starting this new form of enforcement is easier than you might think and likely to be received well by your community.